MOUNT MAUNGANUI: In a rain-affected third and final Twenty20 international on Sunday, New Zealand defeated Bangladesh by 17 runs, drawing the series 1-1. Captain Mitchell Santner claimed four wickets in the match.
New Zealand’s top order collapsed to 49-5 after dismissing the tourists for 110 in Mount Maunganui, but Jimmy Neesham and Santner rallied to reach 95-5 off 14.4 overs. All-rounder Neesham’s undefeated 28 kept the Black Caps comfortably ahead of the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) target when play was stopped due to heavy rain.
The outcome prevented Bangladesh, who had lost the previous ODI series 2-1, from winning a series in any format on New Zealand soil. On a lively Bay Oval pitch, Santner asked Bangladesh to bat first and claimed 4-16 off his four overs, stifling an innings that was already struggling at 41-3 when he was brought on.
Seamers Tim Southee, Adam Milne and Ben Sears all took two wickets. Milne (2-23) removed Bangladesh captain and top-scorer Najmul Hossain Shanto for 17 when he skied a full-pitched delivery to point. Shanto rued the fact that he and four other Bangladesh batsmen reached double figures, but all failed to convert into a substantial score.
Four of New Zealand’s top order were dismissed for one run and when Finn Allen followed after scoring 38, Neesham held the innings together as the storm clouds gathered, with solid support from Santner who was unbeaten on 18. Seam bowler Shoriful Islam took 2-17 off 3.4 overs.
Wednesday’s match in Napier was won by Bangladesh by five wickets, and the second match on Friday was called off after 11 overs due to rain in Mount Maunganui.